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wrxkid · 04-23-2008, 07:41 AM

Hey guys, I havn't been up to Snow Summit in a long time, actually since they closed it to downhillers. How are the trails up there? Any single track? Technical, easy? Or just fireroads? Thanks

Kiet

allison · 04-23-2008, 07:49 AM

There's some singletrack, but they don't allow "big bikes" (for the most part).

Take a 6" AM bike (unless you get lucky) and have fun. I'd also recommend against FF helmets and pads. As a female I feel more comfortable in them when I'm not climbing, but they still looked down on the gear no matter what.

ghixon · 04-23-2008, 08:01 AM

Still too much patch snow to be any good. Most of Skyline is open from the west end, but all-in-all, wait a few weeks.

All the ST on the east (Pirates, Fall Line, Dick's Trail and 2 B!tches) are still under a foot or more of snow.

katonk · 04-23-2008, 08:03 AM

I think FF, leg and arm pads are OK there. They do seem to discourage full body armor, but they won't turn you away just for that. A good way to get turned away is to go in a large group with 8 inch bikes and full body armor. 7 inch bikes with FF, leg and arm pads is usually OK. Just don't call attention to yourself and you get away with a lot.

denmother · 04-23-2008, 08:18 AM

Great riding, lots of trails, tech, singletrack, a little of everything!! Check out this post from last summer Back on 26, or Snow Summit 8/19

mfoga · 04-23-2008, 08:32 AM

Rules

1. Bikes must be less than 35 pounds.
2. Designated tire size must be less than 2.5.
3. Front shock must have less than 6 inches of travel.
4. Bikes must have three chain rings unless they are single speed

dubjay · 04-23-2008, 08:32 AM

How tough are they on that 3 chainring rule at the lifts? I run a bash on my 6" bike.

Marshall Willanholly · 04-23-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubjay

How tough are they on that 3 chainring rule at the lifts?

Not very. Both Carla and I have two rings and a bash on our bikes and have never had a problem.

mazer75 · 04-23-2008, 08:35 AM

Regarding "big bikes" at Summit, don't you guys think it's a bit of a double-standard? They have huge terrain parks for snowboarders/skiiers, with all kinds of hits and obstacles (not to mention the half-pipes) to potentially destroy your face/spine/body on, but they don't let us up with 8" travel bikes.

How is that reconciled with what they allow in the winter? It is just bothersome to me, that's all. (And I don't even have a DH bike!!)

mfoga · 04-23-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubjay

How tough are they on that 3 chainring rule at the lifts? I run a bash on my 6" bike.

I was thinking that was odd, a lot of people run bash guards on 5+ travel bikes.

I cant understand why they can't make some DH type runs where the slopes are. It can't see it as a liability issue when they have no problem putting up 15+ foot kickers with 30+ foot gaps. It would seem like they could make some good money if they open downhill runs that are served by a lift.

Marshall Willanholly · 04-23-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazer75

Regarding "big bikes" at Summit, don't you guys think it's a bit of a double-standard? They have huge terrain parks for snowboarders/skiiers, with all kinds of hits and obstacles (not to mention the half-pipes) to potentially destroy your face/spine/body on, but they don't let us up with 8" travel bikes.

How is that reconciled with what they allow in the winter? It is just bothersome to me, that's all. (And I don't even have a DH bike!!)

They make more in one busy day during ski season than they make all summer, even back when they allowed DH bikes.

There's a good article on Big Bear in the new issue of Bike.

Kaboom · 04-23-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazer75

Regarding "big bikes" at Summit, don't you guys think it's a bit of a double-standard? They have huge terrain parks for snowboarders/skiiers, with all kinds of hits and obstacles (not to mention the half-pipes) to potentially destroy your face/spine/body on, but they don't let us up with 8" travel bikes.

How is that reconciled with what they allow in the winter? It is just bothersome to me, that's all. (And I don't even have a DH bike!!)

I don't think they have been sued by a snowboarder for 25 million yet. Check out the newest issue of Bike magazine. There is a good article in there about the trails in Big Bear. It also outlines the lawsuit they faced.

mfoga · 04-23-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaboom

I don't think they have been sued by a snowboarder for 25 million yet. Check out the newest issue of Bike magazine. There is a good article in there about the trails in Big Bear. It also outlines the lawsuit they faced.

The only thing I can think of is that biking doesn't fall under that action sport thing. I know snowboarding does. There is some sort of law that limits liability in those type sports. Thats what allowed all the cities to put up all these skate parks.

denmother · 04-23-2008, 08:44 AM

It's funny, seems like we went through this last year (all the same questions).

I rode my DH bike without a problem. I just put a dog collar on my Fox 40 (to compress it to 6 inches) and they put it on the lift. I wore knee & elbow pads and a brain bucket. I had 2.5 tires, single chain ring and a bash guard.

BTW, some days this works and some days it doesn't. There is definitely no consistency whatsoever! For that reason, I went out and bought a Totem (single crown) for my Socom so that I can ride there all Summer.

If you are riding in a large group, split up into small groups when you hit the lift line.

dstepper · 04-23-2008, 08:51 AM

Last year for the most part it seemed like they looked the other way when it came to enforcing their lift rules. With that said I am sure that if a we constantly push the rules and wander onto the runs they want us off of things would get tight again.

Dean

Keith B · 04-23-2008, 08:52 AM

So potentially anyone with a dual crown Enduro 07 or 08 may not be allowed on the chair lifts??

dstepper · 04-23-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith B

So potentially anyone with a dual crown Enduro 07 or 08 may not be allowed on the chair lifts??

You are a goater, you can always ride up....

drclark · 04-23-2008, 08:56 AM

In addition to the liability/insurance issues stemming from the lawsuit, they were also getting a lot of crap from the forest service about all the illegal DH trails that were originating on or near their property. How much that played into the decision to close the face runs and put limitations on "assault-bikes" is anyones guess.

I haven't been up there since they essentially closed it down to DH'ers. It isn't worth the gas to drive up the hill in my opinion. There's plenty of great xc riding locally. For lift-assisted DH, I'd rather drive to mammoth or northstar.

You'd think that there would be enough DH'ers in LA & orange counties that the local ski resorts could make really good money if they opened up a Whistler-style MTB park. However, I would be willing to bet that the so-cal forest service is part of the problem in getting trails/stunts approved. When talking to the Team BB guys way back when, they were saying that all sorts of impact studies (wildlife, envrionment, geological, etc) had to be done to build a new trail (even on the ski resort property).

drc

If the lift guys are anything like they were back then, just show up with a case of beer or two as a gift and they'll probably let you get away with just about anything...

surlygal · 04-23-2008, 09:01 AM

Last year they did turn their heads often - although i've also heard through the grapevine that many liftys got in some trouble for being *lazy* on the lifts.

They may be a bit more tight on their rules this year. Key words here are MAY BE

denmother · 04-23-2008, 09:09 AM

There has always been a lot of speculation as to why Snow Summit decided to close their doors to DH riding. The so called illegal trails are still there and still open. In fact there are many more trails then there used to be.

Sorry to disagree with Doug, but there is great DH/AM riding and you just have to go exploring......and there are shuttle options as well.

Basically, there were only 3 DH trails on Snow Summit property and it got pretty boring real fast when that was all you rode. We missed them when they were gone, but we rode the other trails more often anyway.

I was told that the real issue was holding DH races on non-permitted trails....

Quote:

Originally Posted by surlygal

Last year they did turn their heads often - although i've also heard through the grapevine that many liftys got in some trouble for being *lazy* on the lifts.

They may be a bit more tight on their rules this year. Key words here are MAY BE

They are more lenient when the owner is not around. When he shows up, then he makes them enforce the rules.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstepper

Last year for the most part it seemed like they looked the other way when it came to enforcing their lift rules. With that said I am sure that if a we constantly push the rules and wander onto the runs they want us off of things would get tight again.

Dean

Snow Summit does not allow any riding on the actual ski resort property. This is the only thing they enforce.

04-23-2008, 07:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
wrxkid Kiet	Snow Summit opens soon! Hey guys, I havn't been up to Snow Summit in a long time, actually since they closed it to downhillers. How are the trails up there? Any single track? Technical, easy? Or just fireroads? Thanks Kiet

04-23-2008, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
allison Gone ridin'	There's some singletrack, but they don't allow "big bikes" (for the most part). Take a 6" AM bike (unless you get lucky) and have fun. I'd also recommend against FF helmets and pads. As a female I feel more comfortable in them when I'm not climbing, but they still looked down on the gear no matter what. __________________

04-23-2008, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
ghixon Look Ma - No hands!	Still too much patch snow to be any good. Most of Skyline is open from the west end, but all-in-all, wait a few weeks. All the ST on the east (Pirates, Fall Line, Dick's Trail and 2 B!tches) are still under a foot or more of snow. __________________ The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.

04-23-2008, 08:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
katonk .	I think FF, leg and arm pads are OK there. They do seem to discourage full body armor, but they won't turn you away just for that. A good way to get turned away is to go in a large group with 8 inch bikes and full body armor. 7 inch bikes with FF, leg and arm pads is usually OK. Just don't call attention to yourself and you get away with a lot. __________________ .

04-23-2008, 08:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
dstepper Over the Hill	Last year for the most part it seemed like they looked the other way when it came to enforcing their lift rules. With that said I am sure that if a we constantly push the rules and wander onto the runs they want us off of things would get tight again. Dean __________________ If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path

04-23-2008, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
denmother	Great riding, lots of trails, tech, singletrack, a little of everything!! Check out this post from last summer Back on 26, or Snow Summit 8/19 __________________ My Blog/My Sponsorhouse profile ~Weekends are like recess for adults so play hard until the bell rings Gene Hamilton: Happy, friendly people that may not be the best athletes are more fun than arrogant "experts".

04-23-2008, 08:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
mfoga STR Veteran	Rules 1. Bikes must be less than 35 pounds. 2. Designated tire size must be less than 2.5. 3. Front shock must have less than 6 inches of travel. 4. Bikes must have three chain rings unless they are single speed

04-23-2008, 08:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
dubjay Bike Parts for Christmas	How tough are they on that 3 chainring rule at the lifts? I run a bash on my 6" bike.

04-23-2008, 08:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
mazer75 Rocket Man	Regarding "big bikes" at Summit, don't you guys think it's a bit of a double-standard? They have huge terrain parks for snowboarders/skiiers, with all kinds of hits and obstacles (not to mention the half-pipes) to potentially destroy your face/spine/body on, but they don't let us up with 8" travel bikes. How is that reconciled with what they allow in the winter? It is just bothersome to me, that's all. (And I don't even have a DH bike!!)

04-23-2008, 08:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
denmother	It's funny, seems like we went through this last year (all the same questions). I rode my DH bike without a problem. I just put a dog collar on my Fox 40 (to compress it to 6 inches) and they put it on the lift. I wore knee & elbow pads and a brain bucket. I had 2.5 tires, single chain ring and a bash guard. BTW, some days this works and some days it doesn't. There is definitely *no consistency whatsoever! For that reason, I went out and bought a Totem (single crown) for my Socom so that I can ride there all Summer. If you are riding in a large group, split up into small groups when you hit the lift line. __________________ My Blog/My Sponsorhouse profile ~Weekends* are like recess for adults so play hard until the bell rings Gene Hamilton: Happy, friendly people that may not be the best athletes are more fun than arrogant "experts".

04-23-2008, 08:52 AM	#16 (permalink)
Keith B Professional Lion Tamer	So potentially anyone with a dual crown Enduro 07 or 08 may not be allowed on the chair lifts?? __________________ "I once met three guys named pain, suffering and sacrifice. Now, we're inseperable. We're best friends"

04-23-2008, 08:56 AM	#18 (permalink)
drclark I aim to misbehave	In addition to the liability/insurance issues stemming from the lawsuit, they were also getting a lot of crap from the forest service about all the illegal DH trails that were originating on or near their property. How much that played into the decision to close the face runs and put limitations on "assault-bikes" is anyones guess. I haven't been up there since they essentially closed it down to DH'ers. It isn't worth the gas to drive up the hill in my opinion. There's plenty of great xc riding locally. For lift-assisted DH, I'd rather drive to mammoth or northstar. You'd think that there would be enough DH'ers in LA & orange counties that the local ski resorts could make really good money if they opened up a Whistler-style MTB park. However, I would be willing to bet that the so-cal forest service is part of the problem in getting trails/stunts approved. When talking to the Team BB guys way back when, they were saying that all sorts of impact studies (wildlife, envrionment, geological, etc) had to be done to build a new trail (even on the ski resort property). drc If the lift guys are anything like they were back then, just show up with a case of beer or two as a gift and they'll probably let you get away with just about anything...

04-23-2008, 09:01 AM	#19 (permalink)
surlygal goin all the way!!!	Last year they did turn their heads often - although i've also heard through the grapevine that many liftys got in some trouble for being lazy on the lifts. They may be a bit more tight on their rules this year. Key words here are MAY BE __________________ tkblazer: " i'm a freakin roadie now" Wrecker: "Although six inches is fine with me, it'll have to be white. "

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